What if your dog had a say in their own training? Dog training and agency go hand in hand, and choice is one of the most overlooked tools in building calm, confidence, and cooperation.

At Belle & Bark, we believe that training isn’t just about getting results. It’s about building relationships rooted in trust and understanding. And that starts with allowing your dog to be an active participant in their own life.

What is agency, and why does it matter?

In behavioural science, agency refers to an individual’s ability to make choices and exert control over their environment. For dogs, that could be as simple as choosing where to sniff on a walk or whether they want to engage in a training session.

Choice is enriching. It reduces stress, supports learning, and creates a sense of safety. Without it, even well-meaning routines can become disempowering or frustrating.

When applied to dog training and agency, this perspective allows us to raise dogs who feel secure, respected, and willing to engage.

What agency looks like in daily life

In my own home, my dogs have a lot of autonomy. They can opt in or out of greetings with strangers. On walks, they get to choose the route more often than not. If they aren’t in the mood for training, that’s fine. We can always revisit it later. They’re free to refuse, though if something is truly necessary, like a health-related procedure, I will gently insist.

Agency is not the same as permissiveness. I still set boundaries, maintain structure, and provide guidance. But I also create space for my dogs to express themselves and feel heard.

This could look like:

• Letting your dog decide whether to greet someone or keep walking
• Offering two different enrichment toys and letting them choose
• Allowing breaks during training, play, or grooming
• Listening when your dog disengages instead of pushing for more

The result? Dogs that are confident, calmer, and more willing to engage with us voluntarily.

Learned helplessness: What happens when choice disappears

On the other side of the spectrum is a psychological concept called learned helplessness, first studied by psychologist Martin Seligman in the 1960s. In a series of experiments, dogs were exposed to unavoidable stress (in that case, mild shocks). Eventually, they stopped trying to escape even when escape was possible, because they had learned that their actions didn’t change the outcome.

In real-world dog training, this can happen when a dog is repeatedly corrected, ignored, or forced without a way to influence what’s happening. Over time, they may appear “shut down,” “lazy,” or “stubborn,” when in reality they’ve simply stopped trying.

Learned helplessness can lead to anxiety, reactivity, and diminished curiosity. And unfortunately, it’s more common than many people realize.

📚 Want to learn more?
Here’s a great summary from the American Psychological Association:
Learned Helplessness – APA

Training with agency: How to build it into your dog’s life

The good news? Agency can be cultivated, often with simple changes to how we interact with our dogs day to day.

Try starting here:

• Offer low-stakes choices: Let your dog choose which treat to work for, which trick to perform, or what game to play
• Use consent cues: Ask your dog if they’re ready before handling paws, ears, or brushing. Respect a “no” when you can
• Incorporate pause points: During grooming, training, or even petting. Try petting your dog for 10 to 15 seconds, then pause and see if they ask for more.
• Let them opt out of greetings: Not every dog wants to say hi. Allowing them to observe or skip a social interaction is just as valid as engaging

When dogs learn that their choices are respected, they begin to offer more. You’ll see increased focus, faster learning, and more engagement. Not because they have to, but because they want to.

Final thoughts

Giving your dog more agency isn’t about spoiling them or giving up structure. It’s about inviting them into a partnership where they feel safe, heard, and empowered to participate.

So ask yourself: is your dog a participant in your life together, or just a passenger?

If you’re ready to explore how building choice into your routines can improve your dog’s behaviour and well-being, we’d love to help.
👉 Book a consult here or sign up for our newsletter for more science-backed training tips.